Creative ways to put your stamp on your first home

Creative ways to put your stamp on your first home

Buying your first home is a thrilling time. If you’ve spent years in the neutral shades of rental properties, getting your first home means you can finally let your creativity flow with interior design and decoration..

House floor plan

Decide on a layout

This is the first thing you should do when moving into your new home. Decide where you want things to go and experiment with different layouts until you find the perfect combination of cosy and functional. You will want a good flow to your home, so if you’re bringing items from a previous house, you should ensure that they’ll fit well and if not consider investing in some new furniture.

Illustration of bedroom with bed on a circular rug

Flooring

Flooring can make or break the look of a home so you should make sure you consider what you choose carefully. While carpeting is a popular choice, having polished wood flooring with a statement rug could be the perfect way to inject your style into the home.

If you do opt for carpeting, you should always choose the very best quality. Carpets, particularly in areas where there is a lot of footfall, will need to be hard-wearing to last for years to come.

Illustration of hous with a huge front door key

Consider buying a new build

New houses are perfect for making a home entirely yours. They’ll never have been lived in, so provide the perfect blank canvas for anyone who’s been itching for the chance to show their interior decorating skills. You should find a home with a quality housing developer like Castle Green Homes that combines functionality with style and empowers you to get the most out of your new home.

Illustration of a wallpapered wall

Create a statement wall

There’s some gorgeous patterned wallpaper out there to choose from, but papering an entire room with statement wallpaper could be overkill. Instead, you could have a single wall with a bold and bright pattern and paint the remaining walls in more neutral, complementary shades.

You can then tie in the rest of the room to your statement wall with accessories and furniture in colours and styles that suit it.

Illustration of a modern fire

Get creative with heating options

If your new home has a fireplace, consider buying a new fixture to heat the room in winter. There are countless gorgeous options available, from electric wood-burner style heaters to faux fireplaces.

A fireplace is a great way to give a room a focal point and to make larger rooms cosier and more intimate places in which to spend time.

Illustration of packets of seeds and watering can

Don’t forget the garden

No matter the size of your garden, you’ll be able to find the perfect way to put your stamp on the exterior of your home. You could consider hanging baskets if your garden space is limited and outdoor furniture to help you make the most of the warmer months.

Nurturing a green oasis is a great way to make your home your own. This can be low effort if you don’t have much time to tend a garden, by planting easy-to-grow, low maintenance flowers like native wildflowers and evergreens.

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7 benefits of buying a new build property

7 benefits of buying a new build property

If you’re in the process of looking for a new home to purchase, then one of the decisions you’ll have to make is whether to buy second-hand or go down the route of buying a new build. For many, the character and charm of a period property can’t be equalled, so a new property will never be a consideration.

There are, however, many more practical factors to take into account that could make a new build property the ideal choice. If you’ve ruled out buying a brand new home or are in a quandary, then keep reading, as this may help to make things a bit clearer in your mind. Here are 7 benefits of buying a new build property.

Illustration of the front of a house

Everything is clean and new

When you buy an older property, everything has already been used by someone else, and nothing will look as pristine as it once did. When you get the keys to a new home, everything is pristine. Your appliances have never been touched, windows are scratch-free and your kitchen and bathrooms resemble something you’d see in a showroom.

Every inch is clean, tidy and fresh, so when you move in, there’ll be no need to clean carpets, wipe down skirting boards or set to work scrubbing toilets. It’s as simple as moving in and sitting down.

Coloured pencil houses illustration

You can make your own colour selections

Another great benefit of buying new is that you’ll usually get to make colour selections for various elements of the property. This will depend on the construction stage of the property but, if it’s in the fairly early stages, then it’s likely to be something you’re invited to do by the developer. The most common selections you’ll make are kitchen cabinets, kitchen & bathroom tiling and counter-tops, but this will vary from development to development.

When you buy a second-hand property, everything is already in place. If you don’t, for example, like the kitchen, you’ll either have to put up with it or will have the expense and hassle of having a new one fitted after you move in.

Condominium building illustration

Shared facilities

Many new build new york apartments for sale come with a host of on-site facilities strictly for use by residents, which is a great benefit. For example, 212W93, a development by Landsea Homes in New York, boasts a 24-hour attended lobby, landscaped rooftop terrace and, amongst other things, a fitness studio. These are just some of the facilities you’d be unlikely to find if you were buying a condo in a development built some time ago.

Common facilities are not only great for your lifestyle but are also a fabulous way to meet people who own neighbouring properties such as in hoboken apartments. It can help to create a great sense of community and help you form social relationships that you may not otherwise have come across.

House and money illustration

Reduced running costs

If you already own or have owned an older property, then you’ll be more than aware of the running costs that can be associated with them. They cost way more to run than their new counterparts, so if month to month outlays are a consideration, buying new may be the way to go.

Due to the insulation used in the construction of new build, they’re usually far cheaper to heat, so you should see a dramatic reduction in your utility bills. When buying new, you also know that your roof isn’t going to need replacing or your property rewired any time soon, so you could end up saving yourself a fortune in maintenance and upgrades over the years.

Many new homes are constructed with smart home technology elements such as sensor lightings and smart thermostats, which can help to reduce your electricity consumption as well as being a great benefit to the environment.

Illustration of a row of houses

You can pick the property you want

It will depend on which properties are released for sale at the time, but buying new does offer more flexibility in terms of choosing the property and location you want. When a second-hand property comes on the market, that’s the only house on offer. You may have preferred the one next door or across the street, but unless the owners decide to sell, there’s little you can do.

When buying new, you have your pick of several different plot locations, floor plans and property sizes from which to choose. Even if the property you want isn’t yet available, many developers will allow you to add your name to a waiting list or pay an early bird reservation fee to secure a property that isn’t yet released.

Illustration of a cross-section of a multi-storey house

Upgrading your property

Another great benefit of buying a new home is the ability to make enhancements and changes during construction. These will vary from developer to developer but many will, for example, allow you to upgrade your kitchen units, counter-tops or internal doors. If you want to have additional sockets fitted or perhaps want to choose a superior quality tile from those offered as standard, you may be able to make changes.

There will, of course, be restrictions on what you can do, so talk to the agents and find out what is and isn’t permitted. Deviating from the standard specification is a great way to make the property feel like it’s been built just for you and will also reduce the need for any works after you move in.

Illustration of a house with a for sale sign outside

The price is the price

Buying second-hand can result in bidding wars if there are several people after the same property. If you have your heart set on a property only to be pipped to the post when it comes to a sealed bid situation, it can be hugely upsetting and can cause copious amounts of stress. When buying new, there’ll more often than not be a fixed price set to secure the property, which cuts out any stress and makes the process simpler.

Moving house can be stressful enough, so buying new is certainly worth considering when making your next house purchase.

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Thinking of buying a new home?

Thinking of buying a new home? | H is for Home

When you’re thinking about the possibility of buying a new home, you need to be confident that you’re actually ready for embarking on that experience. That certainty can be much more difficult than you might think… but as long as you know what to look out for, you can be positive that you’re going to make it work. One thing’s for sure: it’s always going to be a particularly exciting time, and that’s something that you’ll want to make the most of – but there’s much more that you need to take into account too. In this post, we’ll look at some of the things to consider if you’re thinking of buying a new home.

Three wooden wall clocks

Is it really time?

The issue of timing is a tough one, and one which you’ll need to think about long & hard. You need to be satisfied that it’s actually a good time for you to think about buying a home – but what kinds of things can influence that decision? What’s a good or a bad time? On one hand, a strong instinct might take hold – and you’ll be able to tell if you should go for it, hold it off for a while – or even if the right moment has passed. But you might also need to think about it more logically, and ensure that you’re not adversely affecting your own life or anyone else’s in any way.

Man holding a pink piggy bank in one hand and a model house in the other

The finances

One of the major considerations when you’re thinking about timing itself is, of course, money. You need to feel that you’re financially ready for such a huge undertaking. After all, you’re probably never going to experience a bigger purchase than when you buy a house, so you should determine that it’s not going to cause you problems. That means planning ahead, being fully aware of what kind of money you actually have to spare, and knowing fully the costs that you might incur with buying a home.

One of the most important things here is the deposit. If you can’t get the deposit together, then it’s not practical to expect that you can buy a property. You may need to scrimp and save as it’s the only way to invest in a property for yourself.

But the deposit is not the only financial concern – there’s also the mortgage to think about. Your mortgage may dictate much of the next 20 years or so of your life, so you need to determine that you’re happy with it. One thing to remember is that it should be as specific to your needs as possible. So, if you’re buying a holiday home, you should think about finding Holiday Cottage Mortgages to help you along. You’ll also need to check that the interest rate is acceptable, and that you can trust the company offering it.

If you can get all that in place, then you’re probably going to feel much more ready to buy that new home. But there are still other things that you’ll need to think about too.

Location map illustration

Location

We all know that location is important and you need to spend time assessing the perfect area for you.  This isn’t something that comes easily – plenty of research is required – the internet, magazines and local press are all vital tools. Try to do this as meticulously as you can. Ideally, your new house will serve as a good investment as well as a good home. You want to be confident that you’re happy with living there. Is an up-and-coming area? What are the neighbourhood schools like? Are the transport links convenient?

Movinh home by bike

Moving

It’s essential that you turn your attention to the actual process of moving as soon as is practical. It’s something for which you really need to plan ahead. For many people, moving is a very stressful experience, so reduce this as much as possible with some forward planning. Use reminders, check-lists and spread sheets. Identify any help you may need, whether that’s personal or professional, and take some time off work to be able to do it. All in all, these steps are going to make a huge difference to your experience of moving.

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You’ve moved into your best home – now, how do you decorate?

You've moved into your best home - now, how do you decorate?

It isn’t uncommon to feel slightly overwhelmed when moving into a new home. We may arrive, look around and reflect on just how much work there is to be done. In some cases, we may want to start afresh, bringing all of our belongings but leaving them put for a time while we consider options.

Of course, some people may embark on moving into their new home happy and excited, thinking of all the changes they’ll make. Then, after actually inhabiting the space for a period, they may develop other ideas that they need to clarify in their minds before deciding on the course of action. There’s nothing wrong with all this, it’s just part of how the ‘moving to a new home’ experience can be.

Thankfully, moving into your best home is victory enough already, so then follows the really fun part. So, how do you decorate? Often, doing a place up is something that happens over a period of years and will be constantly evolving. That being said, consider the following advice:

keeping furniture in storage

Keep your bulky furniture & belongings in storage

Whilst it can be tempting to just put all your stuff in whatever empty room is available, this can sometimes impede how well you can create your interior from the ground up, and can lead to no small amount of stress. With a storage unit, you can keep your most prized, valuable and sizeable items safe while you figure out where to put them. Of course, this will mostly be for inessential items that aren’t required in your home immediately. You needn’t go without a bed for two weeks before you decide where to put it however, in the case of out-of-season clothes, your hardback book collection etc, this can be a great solution and save you future hassle.

Tape measure illustration

Measure everything

When you were viewing your potential new property, it’s unlikely that you had the chance to measure the dimensions of everything. But now you’ve moved in, you’re free to investigate the space as you wish. Measuring walls, the width of the front door, ceiling heights etc and jotting these down in a notebook can help you make more informed decisions when it comes to buying new items for your home. This can prevent you from making unsuitable purchases, and helps you feel much more confident when in the shop.

Illustration of a homeware shop

Take it easy

It’s not uncommon to think that if you have a room, you need to fill it. It’s how we’re wired. However, there’s no need to rush to your nearest home furnishings store to select everything you can from the offset. Taking the time to find fixtures & fittings, decorative items or renovation materials that you like, rather than think you should buy, can help the space develop its own individual character over time. This could include advice from luxury interior design specialists, purchases from indie designer-makers, antique shops or even doing some DIY crafting – wherever your taste takes you!

If you’re lucky enough to be planning a move to the Costa del Sol, Estuco Interiors is perfectly placed to help you bring your dream home to reality.

With this advice, you’re sure to move into your best home well.

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